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Yesterday we heard the news that Demon's Souls' spiritual successor Project Dark is actually titled Dark Souls and will be released in late 2011. Today, we have our first trailer and previewsgoing up. So, that means it's catchall time.

From the few previews that are out there it sounds like they're basically making Demon's Souls 2 in terms of difficulty and I for one applaud that they aren't aiming for a more mainstream-palatable difficulty level. And the fact that the game is much more of an open world than the hub-style of DS, well, this might just be my perfect game in the making.

NSMike wrote:

How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.

A piece of advice for anyone going into the Catacombs and going up against the wheel skeletons.

Spoiler:

Use a bow to make one angry so it will run toward you. Then block or dodge the rolling attack and destroy it when given the chance. Repeat until all wheel skeletons are dead.

SuperDave:

Yes I believe the bosses you are describing are correct.

Spoiler:

Manus killed me with his giant magic hand. I know the Kalameet will also be able to kill me in one hit, but I'm not as worried about him. If I can remain patient in that fight I know I'll be able to take him down.

I'm wondering if using the weapons I currently have is what is best for this fight. Not being able to level up means I don't have many options for changing my weapons and elemental damage might be my best option.

EDIT:

I've taken out the main boss from the DLC. I used a tactic that wasn't all that fun honestly. I just took my time and wore the boss down with my +14 Light Crossbow with Heavy Bolts. I think it is actually my strongest weapon now.

I've got one more to go, but with the few times I've tried to fight it I may have underestimated how hard this last boss will be.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Buy! Buy so you can be an ostrich who kills dinosaurs by kicking them in the face!

The boss I just defeated was the main boss from the DLC. There is another DLC boss left for me to kill, but it seems that I have to think about how to approach this fight more carefully.

I don't plan on taking out the final boss of the game until I've taken out all bosses in the DLC. There are two optional bosses from the main game that I've not fought either, but neither of them will pose much challenge.

Man, this game has seriously shaped the way I play it. I took probably six shots at Nito trying to figure him out. Other games, I would have headed to the wiki after one or two failed attempts.

Now, after 6 or so, I did go to the wiki, where I learned that

Spoiler:

he wasn't spawning adds over and over - they were just resurrecting themselves because I wasn't using a Divine weapon on them (damn skeletons leading to Nito don't require Divine!).

Once I read that, I swapped out my usual weapon for my Divine Estoc +5, and beat him the next attempt.

I also went back to

Spoiler:

the Crystal Cave

and got the Blue Slab. That was harrowing! Now my main weapon is all grownsed up - an Enchanted Longsword +5.

Next up is a return to the Asylum, then Painted World, then the DLC. Sitting around soul level 70, low 40s INT, need 46 to cast Crystal Soul Spear. Soul Spear alone is pretty awesome, can't wait to see what a more powerful spell can do, especially at a higher INT level.

Now please, give me your Dark Souls updates, because I crave discussion of this game!

My level 1 pyro just finished anor londo and it's not actually going that bad. I've got my dagger to +10 and my pyro to +15 but I'm still stuck in basic crappy armor. I've not figured out which pieces to work toward. Not being able to use the target shield was a kick in the nuts. I think I can go buy the master key from the wench now that the depths is done and get to havel.

I found a pretty sweet low-level soul farming technique. This has probably already been suggested before, but if not I was pretty happy with the results...

After beating the Taurus Demon and running down the stairs to the right of the bridge with the dragon, you drop the ladder down to the shortcut to the bonfire. Rest at the bonfire, then climb back up the ladder and run back up the stairs to the dragon bridge. Step out onto the bridge for just a second and then run back down the stairs. While you are doing this, the dragon will fry all the dudes on the bridge, netting you 555 souls. Run back down the stairs and jump down to the bonfire (negligible HP loss) and rest, rinse, repeat. Each little loop takes about a minute.

I made no progress in my attempt to kill all bosses with a lvl 5 Knight. I did however help a fellow Goodjer attain the highest status in the Dragon covenant netting him a nice full dragon body. We had to use the horrible summoning system to transfer dragon scales down from lvl 100 characters all the way to his lvl 1 pyro. It took about 5-6 hours in total between getting the summons to work, and then also having me get two characters to the exact lvl we needed to transfer down to the pyro.

I do plan on taking out the two optional bosses I have left today though.

EDIT:
This is just a weird glitch, I've never had the health bar of a defeated boss reappear.

I only have two bosses left. I could go kill the hydra at Ash Lake but I honestly don't care about fighting it because all I'd do is block its melee attack and hit it with my sword.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Buy! Buy so you can be an ostrich who kills dinosaurs by kicking them in the face!

I got Sif on the first try by keeping my distance and Soul Spearing. Pretty sure I meleed the first 3 bosses, I know I did for Four Kings. Pinwheel.

So many bosses!

I would not like to have to melee Gravelord Nito, though.

Side note: I just remembered fighting the final boss in Sen's Fortress. I think that's when the game's multiplayer really got me. Every game should let you summon people into the game for help! This multiplayer system should be studied, copied, and improved on ad infinitum. MMOs should learn from it. So good.

I got Sif on the first try by keeping my distance and Soul Spearing. Pretty sure I meleed the first 3 bosses, I know I did for Four Kings. Pinwheel.

So many bosses!

I would not like to have to melee Gravelord Nito, though.

Side note: I just remembered fighting the final boss in Sen's Fortress. I think that's when the game's multiplayer really got me. Every game should let you summon people into the game for help! This multiplayer system should be studied, copied, and improved on ad infinitum. MMOs should learn from it. So good.

Oh yeah I wasn't even planning on fighting the boss but I was in that area and there was a summon sign, since I was human. Went for it, took him out on 1 try. Felt awesome.

I have been loving the reliable summoning on the 360 version. I have yet to fight a boss alone and I have collected 20 sunlight medals offering my help. I have only had two invasions and I was a phantom both times. Also, finally seeing the dragon cult summons has been tempting. I might take up the challenge one of these times.

I was playing today (360 version) and I got invaded twice. I was owned both times, but I was able to recover from both. Co-op summoning is still working great.

I joined the Forest Hunters with a different character and that is a real challenge. It took me a while to get to my level three goal. It seems like, for the most part, people are prepared and high level (often with a co-op phantom as well) when they hit the forest. From time to time a less prepared player wanders in and then they get taken down.

I have not tried the invasion or retribution covenants, but I did use a Cracked Red Eye Orb once by mistake. I felt bad, but I had to take the guy down...he was provoking me.

I have never owned a console in my life thus i dont use a controller for PC gaming - im just rubbish at holding one let alone pressing buttons in rapid order.

Is anyone using the (nexus) mod to fix the mouse and KB issue, is it ok?

Im not hack and slash diablo gamer, but i found the Witcher 2 combat to be not so difficult.

im really on the fence about this game, my nuts so go but my brain says no

I have a really hard time imagining this game working well with a keyboard and mouse combo, but some people seem to say that the fixes over at the nexus make it ok. I'd do a bit more research outside of GWJ if you can. I don't think any of us playing it on PC did it without a controller.

Squee9 wrote:

Ahh Dyni, I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.

I defeated Pinwheel, got frustrated with the Tomb of the Giants, then I headed back to Anor Londo for some S&O co-op and soul farming (Cleric on PC). I was able to hit level 70. Having The Lord Vessel and The Right of Kindling is just awesome.

I am now decked out in Havel's Set and rolling with a Divine Greatsword. I am still rocking the Chain Mail Helm though.

There's plenty of room to play otherwise. I think a lot of us have skewed more towards melee-driven characters because that's what the control scheme is built around. I tried playing as a sorcerery-oriented character once and while there are some great spells, magical attacks just aren't as compelling as the dance of physical attack/defense. Thankfully, there's a lot of variation in the melee weapons, and the flexibility of the stat/leveling system allows you to build a mixed character who can do strength or dexterity oriented weapons well while augmenting things with sorcery, pyromancy, or miracles; for all other purposes, there's still plenty to be said for the various bows and crossbows if you want non-magical ranged attacks.

Overall, though, I'd say it all comes back to that control scheme. I can't imagine any re-mapping for mouse/keyboard that would mak sense, because it's such a modal kind of a system on the controller - "hold this shoulder button to attack/defend while moving or releasing an analog stick to do a specific type of attack". There isn't a lot out there that I'd say is comparable. It feels pretty awkward until you get the hang of it, and after that, success is dependent on a combination of finesse with what's ultimately a very organic feeling control scheme and understanding of the speed/timing for your chosen weapons, shields, etc. I'd really hesitate to bother with this game if a controller is a deal-breaker for you.